Pretty and Reckless

by Charity Ferrell

  “Still says I was fucked, but beautiful,” he said, turning off the car. He let out a sigh. “I’m excited you get to see the house I grew up in, too. I might take you over to my childhood bedroom.”

  I rolled my eyes at him. I didn’t have the patience to joke around. My nerves were on fire. “I wish you would’ve given me some warning that we were coming to meet your mother.”

  “She just texted me asking us over for a chili dinner. I didn’t get much notice, either.”

  “And you couldn’t find a decent excuse to say no?”

  “I probably could’ve, but I want you to meet my family. They’ve been dying to meet you.” He kissed my forehead. “And I knew you’d try to back out if I told you in advance.”

  I didn’t know what it felt like to have a family. I’d never had one. I had my dad and that was about it. We didn’t have cookouts, family dinners, or Thanksgivings. It was always just the two of us and me rushing through the meal so I wouldn’t have to be around him.

  “You’ll be fine,” Weston said, engulfing my hands around his and kissing them. He released me to get out and open up my door. We took slow steps until we made it to the front door.

  “There they are,” a woman shouted as soon as the door flew open. She rushed towards us, her boots hitting the concrete when she practically pushed us through the front door.

  I swallowed hard. This was about to get awkward. I was meeting the mother of the man I was in love with, which was normal. What wasn’t normal was the fact that she also happened to be the ex-wife of my rapist. What a fucked up situation this was.

  “Mom, be easy on her,” Weston warned.

  She didn’t listen to him. Instead, she grabbed me by my stiff shoulders to hold me at a distance and I stayed frozen when she threw her arms around me.

  “I am being easy on her,” she argued, pulling away from me. “But I’m excited, so don’t ruin this for me.”

  I gave her a weak smile as she stood in front of me and took a good look at her. She looked good for her age, her strawberry blonde hair pulled into a low bun. She looked casual for dinner, wearing a black, cotton skirt that hit her ankles, and a white, button-up shirt. I wasn’t sure how someone so sweet could’ve been married to a monster.

  I spotted Cassidy headed in our direction. “Mom, let her make it through the door before you scare her off,” she said, shooting me a smile and a friendly wave.

  “Oh yes, of course,” she said, giving us room to make it in.

  “I’m glad you two could make it,” Cassidy said.

  “Dang dude, I thought they were lying when they said you had a girlfriend and a hot one at that,” a guy said, walking into the room with a small girl on his shoulders. His blonde hair was combed back and he was wearing jeans with loafers. He reminded me of Vincent. The girl on his shoulders, grinning from ear to ear, couldn’t have been any older than five or six.

  “Funny Bruce,” Weston told the guy. “Don’t make me have my sister divorce you.”

  “Yeah right,” he muttered, bending forward and helping the girl down.

  “He plays with people’s minds for a living. I’m sure if he wanted, he could have me re-thinking our entire relationship and have your bags packed,” Cassidy said, cutting in.

  “It’s nice to see you love me so much,” Bruce grumbled, fake-glaring at his wife.

  “See,” Weston said, tilting his head towards his sister. “Don’t mess with me, man.”

  Weston hunched over when Cassidy rammed her arm into his stomach. “Just kidding, pretty boy. You think too highly of yourself.”

  “Yeah, she’s never leaving this,” Bruce fired back, motioning towards his body.

  “Dear God,” Cassidy said, shaking her head, “our daughter is right there.”

  “This is Elise,” Weston said, finally having the chance to introduce me. “And this is my mother, Laura, my sister Cassidy, who I think you’ve met, and her husband, Bruce.” He picked the small girl up and kissed her cheek. “And this is my favorite little niece, Millie.”

  “I’m your only niece,” she said, shoving his shoulder. She jumped down from him and wrapped her arms around my legs. I looked around the room, not sure what to do, and patted her head. Like an idiot, I patted her head like she was a dog.

  I watched them joke around with each other in awe. It was amazing to see something look so … functional and normal. This family truly and genuinely loved each other, and they were offering me a spot in their happiness. They were giving me the family I wished I’d had for years, and as nervous as I was to take a seat at the table, I knew it would be okay.

  I took a deep breath, trying my best to hide my unease and shot them all a wave.

  “Welcome to the family, Elise. We’re so glad to have you here. I’ve been dying to meet the girl my son can’t stop talking about,” Laura said, smiling wide. “Dinner is ready, so let’s eat.”

  Weston stopped me before we followed the others into the kitchen. “You good?” He asked, clasping my face in his hands and looking me straight in the eye.

  I nodded and smiled. “I am. I’m better than I’ve been in a long time.”

  He kissed me. “We both are, and it only gets better from here, love. Now, lets go hang out with our family.”

  Weston had given me something I never thought I’d have. He gave me love, freedom, appreciation, and a family. He made me feel like I was worth something – even in the times I didn’t believe it myself. He’d saved me from my unhappiness, and I couldn’t wait to spend the rest of my life with him.

  THE END

  FROM THE AUTHOR

  Visit me at my website at: http://www.charityferrell.com

  If you enjoyed reading this book, please consider recommending it to a friend, or leaving a review to help others enjoy it as well.

  Links to other titles:

  Beneath Our Faults

  Karma

  Revive Me

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Thank you to all of you readers who take the time to read something I’ve pored my heart and soul into. Thank you for leaving reviews, reaching out to me, and recommending me to your friends. You guys are amazing.

  To my future husband, who deals with delayed laundry, my slacking on housework, and not getting my full attention because I’m wrapped up in another world. To my family, for understanding the missed phone calls. To the ones who took time reading rough drafts and gave me their input. Thank you LJ, for creating an amazing cover.